Mayor Calls Lower East Side Police Shooting “Tragic” After NYPD Kills Man Accused of Attacking Father

Topline: Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the fatal Lower East Side shooting “tragic” after officers responding to an assault found a blood trail and confronted a man with a butcher knife inside a Ludlow Street building.
Published: August 19, 2026 11:34 am ET
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Shawn Fletcher

Committed to the craft of journalism and am driven by my desire to inform and inspire.
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NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the fatal Lower East Side police shooting “tragic” after NYPD officers shot and killed 54-year-old Wei Chan inside a Ludlow Street apartment building Sunday afternoon.

According to PIX11’s initial report and follow-up coverage, officers were sent to 126 Ludlow St. just after 4 p.m. for multiple 911 calls about an assault in progress, followed a trail of blood up the stairs and encountered Chan holding a large butcher knife.

Officers repeatedly ordered Chan to show his hands and drop the weapon, but he continued toward them before they opened fire, the reports said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Chan’s 75-year-old father, Cheung Chan, was found upstairs with a head laceration and was expected to survive, while officers involved in the confrontation were also taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation.

After being briefed on the shooting, Mamdani said the events on the Lower East Side were tragic, wished the wounded man a full and speedy recovery and said body-worn camera footage would be released as an internal investigation continues.

Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.

Mayor Calls Lower East Side Police Shooting “Tragic” After NYPD Kills Man Accused of Attacking Father

Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the fatal Lower East Side shooting “tragic” after officers responding to an assault found a blood trail and confronted a man with a butcher knife inside a Ludlow Street building.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: August 19, 2026 11:34 am ET
Image

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the fatal Lower East Side police shooting “tragic” after NYPD officers shot and killed 54-year-old Wei Chan inside a Ludlow Street apartment building Sunday afternoon.

According to PIX11’s initial report and follow-up coverage, officers were sent to 126 Ludlow St. just after 4 p.m. for multiple 911 calls about an assault in progress, followed a trail of blood up the stairs and encountered Chan holding a large butcher knife.

Officers repeatedly ordered Chan to show his hands and drop the weapon, but he continued toward them before they opened fire, the reports said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Chan’s 75-year-old father, Cheung Chan, was found upstairs with a head laceration and was expected to survive, while officers involved in the confrontation were also taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation.

After being briefed on the shooting, Mamdani said the events on the Lower East Side were tragic, wished the wounded man a full and speedy recovery and said body-worn camera footage would be released as an internal investigation continues.

Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.

Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.

Mayor Calls Lower East Side Police Shooting “Tragic” After NYPD Kills Man Accused of Attacking Father

Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the fatal Lower East Side shooting “tragic” after officers responding to an assault found a blood trail and confronted a man with a butcher knife inside a Ludlow Street building.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: August 19, 2026 11:34 am ET
Image

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the fatal Lower East Side police shooting “tragic” after NYPD officers shot and killed 54-year-old Wei Chan inside a Ludlow Street apartment building Sunday afternoon.

According to PIX11’s initial report and follow-up coverage, officers were sent to 126 Ludlow St. just after 4 p.m. for multiple 911 calls about an assault in progress, followed a trail of blood up the stairs and encountered Chan holding a large butcher knife.

Officers repeatedly ordered Chan to show his hands and drop the weapon, but he continued toward them before they opened fire, the reports said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Chan’s 75-year-old father, Cheung Chan, was found upstairs with a head laceration and was expected to survive, while officers involved in the confrontation were also taken to nearby hospitals for evaluation.

After being briefed on the shooting, Mamdani said the events on the Lower East Side were tragic, wished the wounded man a full and speedy recovery and said body-worn camera footage would be released as an internal investigation continues.

Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.

Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.